Dubai: Rides have been rolled out at the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure Show (DEAL) 2014, which kicked off in Dubai on Tuesday and runs until Thursday.
Manufacturers at the show said that there is increased demand for rides and attractions in the Gulf, given the region’s large young population and spending power.
There is room for more players that want to take a slice of the market, manufacturers said. Globally, the market for theme parks is forecast to reach $31.8 billion by 2017, according to a statement by International Expo-Consults, the event’s organiser, sourcing a report by Global Industry Analysts, a market research provider.
In the Middle East, the attractions, leisure and entertainment segment is growing at an annual rate of 20-25 per cent, stated the organiser.
“The market is not saturated. People are after entertainment projects,” said Sohret Pakis, director of marketing and communications at Turkey-based Polin, a manufacturer of waterparks.
Several projects across the region are expected to take shape in the next two years. In Dubai, a theme park called IMG Worlds of Adventure (IMGWOA), valued at more than $1 billion, is set to open by the end of the year. Covering an area in excess of 1.5 million square feet, IMGWOA will feature a range of rides and a 12-screen cinema. It will consist of the Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley and IMG Boulevard zones.
“An independent attraction in the centre of Abu Dhabi,” could open in about two years’ time, according to Richard Wood, director of design firm Concept i, who’s working on the project.
The company is also working on an entertainment facility within Al Kout Mall in Kuwait, which is set to open in 2016.
Meanwhile, shopping malls are ramping up their entertainment offerings. For instance, Mall of the Emirates in Dubai is expanding the number of Vox Cinemas screens from the present 13 to 24 [screens].
Also, Dubai Mall’s expansion, which includes the addition of 1m square feet, is expected to boost the entertainment brands at the mall. It currently features Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, SEGA Republic, KidZania and the 22-screen Reel Cinemas.
While there have been many plans to open theme parks in the Gulf, some of these have been dropped due to the high cost of land and the challenging process of getting the necessary permit, according to Pakis.
